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The Black Friars

South Auckland based theatre troupe the Black Friars was formed in 2006 out of a desire to challenge the dominant stereotypes surrounding Pasifika people.

Black Friars – Who we are

South Auckland based theatre troupe the Black Friars was formed in 2006 out of a desire to challenge the dominant stereotypes surrounding Pasifika people and, to “keep talented young brown people off the street and on the stage”. Over the past eight years we’ve written and produced shows for the NZ International Comedy Festival and Auckland Fringe Festival, we’ve worked

in churches and communities on youth suicide prevention, and we’ve held workshops for teachers and students around the Pacific. We’ve adapted classical works with and for young brown audiences, we’ve told original stories in traditional ways and traditional stories in original ways. We’ve won awards, been criticised and even attacked on occasion for our message. These days, our mission statement has changed. We are now determined to “build bridges and make mirrors” but the vision is the same. We want to tell stories that matter to Polynesian people in Aotearoa, and we want to make existing stories relevant to us. We are educators and counsellors, facilitators and enablers, theatre-makers and storytellers. Embracing these multiple identities constitutes the fabric of our company. We are proud to be pan-Polynesian, poly-vocal performers invested in the construction of identity for Pasifika people. We work in communities to encourage young people to tell stories that matter to them. In our theatre work, we also investigate questions of representation, loss and heritage vital to the survival of Pasifika culture in the diaspora.

03/07/2026

We're less than 2 weeks away from opening! ✨️ Shout out to all of our friends and whānau who have got their tickets, we're excited to see you soon!

If you haven't yet, our little boss reckons you should go buy some tickets! 🎟

When:
🗓 17th to 21st March
🕑 8pm

Where:
📍Basement Theatre in the City

🎟 LINK IN BIO or go to iticket.co.nz and search 'Talosaga' to buy your tickets.

🤜🏼⚡️🤛🏼

02/03/2026

🚨🔈‼️ INCOMING NEW SHOW‼️🔈🚨

Long-time members of the Black Friars Theatre company, Lauie Tofa and Denyce Su'a return to the stage. Alongside emerging artist Ariel Hansen, the dynamic trio are proud to bring you the story of ‘Talosaga’.

A show made by family, for family.

‘Talosaga’, written 10 years ago by Denyce, was created as a way to keep alive the memory of a pretty cool dude, with pretty dry jokes. Leaning into the idea that theatre and performance are some of the most powerful ways we can share stories and keep the spirit of a person alive, ‘Talosaga’ is an invitation to share a moment with the Tasi family and their navigation of grief and joy.

Selina Tasi's favourite person in the world is her papa. Shared promises, jokes and mocks thread themselves into every moment of their lives. But when promises are broken, and grief settles in for a long stay, Selina finds herself face to face with some hard truths. And despite her killer track record at hide and seek, there are some things that you can’t hide from. Like your mum.

It’s a show full of music, laughs, tenderness and challenge. Inspired by the strength of a father, the love of a daughter and the tenacity of a mother, this is a show for anyone who’s ever been lucky enough to have a family that mocks you hard, but loves you harder.

When:
📅 17th to 21st March
🕢 8 p.m.

Where:
📍 Basement Theatre

🎟 LINK IN BIO or go to iticket.co.nz and type ‘Talosaga’ to buy your tickets.

We can't wait to see you there! ✨

04/06/2021

Thank you Penina Momoiseā for the plug! Opening night and it was a smash! 🙌🏽 come through until Saturday yo!

04/02/2021

‼️TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST FAM 🥵

Support ya local show, bring your fave people and let us entertain you next week.

Or if you can’t make it - feel free to sponsor a student ticket so we can enable more of our community to get along and have some fun.

We can’t wait to see you there!

April 6-10 | 7:30pm | Māngere Arts Centre

Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board

03/24/2021

THE FRIARS ARE BACK ONSTAGE IN 14 DAYS! We can't wait to bring the Dream Szn back for the village.

Have you bought your tickets yet? Tag someone and if they don't reply in 5 minutes they have to shout a double pass 👀

Secure your tickets now:
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2021/dream/auckland/mangere

02/20/2021

5 weeks til showtime. Til’ then, Masters, spread yourselves. 😤

02/08/2021

Over the weekend some of our members hit centre stage at One Love supporting Aotearoa’s reggae scene. Keep rising Solo, Nafu, Irene and Simi! ✊🏽

If you missed them with Sammy J, you missed out bad!

Y’all had us feeling all types of proud!

From the hood, to the hood, to heal the hood (Dr. Emjay, 2006) ❤️💚💛

05/08/2020

Our Mother’s Day special.

From the SouthSide Rise project 2017. We pay special reverence for our mothers at this time; the bearers of life and nurturers of our hopes.

We love you and appreciate you all.

May God continue to bless you, and we trust you will have an enjoyable Sunday with your families. This track is dedicated to you! 💗

Huge shout out to BOWL MEDIA for their amazing skills on the camera.

The Black Friars - Thank You, Mama available here:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2YNh1U7
Apple Music: https://apple.co/3ceUa7X
YouTube: https://youtu.be/0NR0XAV2jeY

05/08/2020

Watch party running on island time 😂 Were working on it!

Address

Merchantville, NJ

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